Chapter XLII: In Which Monsieur de Mazarin Becomes Extravagant

⚠️ Spoiler Notice: This analysis covers the events of Chapter 42 in full detail. If you are reading Between Two Kings for the first time, you may wish to avoid this page until you have finished the chapter.

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Summary

While the court gathers around a gaming table, the visibly ailing Cardinal Mazarin performs a shocking act of generosity, gifting fifty thousand gold crowns to the king’s younger brother, the Duc d’Anjou. As the bewildered prince jubilantly scoops up the coins, the court watches in astonishment. Prince de Condé, suspicious of such uncharacteristic behavior, quietly inquires of the Comte de La Fère whether the cardinal is dying. Athos, having previously deduced a secret, directs Condé to listen as the Duc d’Anjou reveals to his favorite, the Chevalier de Lorraine, that the gift is a wedding present. This confirms a political marriage is being arranged. Condé immediately grasps that this union will lead to a long period of peace, extinguishing his own hopes for military glory. As the chamber empties, Mazarin, now alone, succumbs to his agony, convinced he is dying, and urgently summons his physician.

Key Events

A Secretive Word: Athos and Raoul exchange a brief, private greeting, with Athos promising to meet his son later at his home, away from prying eyes.
Condé’s Entrance: Louis de Condé, possessing a piercing, hawk-like gaze and an imperious demeanor that intimidates the court, approaches Athos and Raoul with the intention of being properly introduced.
Mutual Respect: Athos greets Condé with dignified, unflattering reserve, earning the prince’s admiration. Condé praises Raoul’s qualities as an officer and the “good school” he came from.
Mazarin’s Gift: The dying cardinal beckons the Duc d’Anjou to his side and gifts him an enormous pile of gold coins—fifty thousand crowns—won by the Comte de Guiche at the gaming table.
Ecstatic Confusion: The Duc d’Anjou cannot believe his luck, filling his pockets before summoning the Chevalier de Lorraine to pocket the rest. The court sees this as a touching family moment, while the king looks away.
An Unnatural Secret: Condé, finding Mazarin’s generosity unnatural, presses Athos for a reason. Athos bids him listen, as the chevalier also questions the prince, who carelessly reveals the gold is a “wedding gift.”
Political Revelation: Athos confirms to Condé that the Duc d’Anjou is to marry the sister of Charles II. This news causes Condé’s ambition to flash and then die, realizing this dynastic marriage heralds a long peace.
Mazarin Alone: After the chamber empties, the cardinal’s facade collapses. He cries out in a broken voice that he is dying and frantically orders his valet, Bernouin, to summon his doctor, Guénaud.

Character Development

Athos: Continues to act as a discreet and perceptive observer. He orchestrates a moment of revelation for Condé without directly betraying a secret, manipulating the scene by directing the prince’s attention to an overheard conversation. His profound understanding of human nature allows him to interpret Condé’s sigh as a death knell for the prince’s thwarted ambitions.
Monsieur le Prince (Condé): Shown as a still-formidable figure whose physical appearance—a low forehead and aquiline nose—is compared to a bird of prey, a mark of his fierce martial spirit. His interaction with Athos reveals a deep, mutual respect between warriors, but his primary arc here is the quiet, crushing realization that a royal marriage will force him to hang up his sword indefinitely.
Mazarin: His behavior is entirely governed by his impending death. The extravagant gift is not true generosity but a symptom of his final decline, a wedding gift dispensed by a man who no longer has use for earthly wealth. His private collapse after the guests leave starkly contrasts his public performance, revealing his terror and physical agony.
Duc d’Anjou: Portrayed as a frivolous and naive youth, utterly absorbed by the physical weight of his unaccustomed wealth. He fails to grasp the profound political implications of his own impending marriage, treating it as a mere transaction he is “made to do.”

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Extravagance as a Death Omen: The chapter’s title is deeply ironic. Mazarin’s “extravagance” is not a joyful vice but a morbid symptom. His giving away of a fortune is an unnatural act for him, signaling to astute observers like Athos and Condé that his life’s final drama is at hand. The gold is a symbol of his loosening grip on both life and power.
The End of Ambition: Condé’s sigh is the chapter’s thematic core. The sound contains “ambitions thwarted, illusions crushed and hopes disappointed.” The royal marriage is not just a political alliance but a death warrant for the war-driven aspirations of an entire generation of nobles, represented by the prince. The image of swords going back on the wall represents a forced retirement from a life of purpose.
Public Performance vs. Private Agony: The chapter contrasts the courtly spectacle around the gaming table with Mazarin’s isolated suffering. The court sees a “touching family moment,” while Athos, Condé, and the reader see a dying man’s unnatural act. This duality culminates when the chamber empties and Mazarin’s mask drops, his broken voice calling for a doctor starkly ending the political charade.
The Raptor Caged: Condé is symbolically described as a noble bird of prey. The news of the peace effectively cages this raptor, grounding a creature whose entire identity is defined by the hunt and the flight of war.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter marks a crucial turning point in the novel’s political landscape. The secret of a royal marriage between the Duc d’Anjou and Charles II’s sister is explosively revealed not through grand diplomacy, but through the careless chatter of a spoiled prince who sees it merely as a vehicle for a cash gift. For Prince de Condé, a central figure of military power whose entire identity is forged in war, this news is devastating. His reaction provides a human counterpoint to the abstract politics, transforming a state alliance into a profound personal tragedy. Furthermore, Mazarin’s final, desperate call for his doctor provides the most visceral evidence yet of his rapid decline, signaling that an era of his governance is about to end, plunging the court into an uncertain future.

Study Questions and Answers

Question: Why does Mazarin’s gift to the Duc d’Anjou cause Prince de Condé such immediate and deep concern? Answer: Condé finds the gift “beyond belief” because it is completely out of character for the miserly cardinal. He instantly deduces that such unnatural behavior indicates Mazarin believes he is dying and has no more use for his hoarded wealth. This, in turn, makes Condé fear the political changes that will follow the cardinal’s death, particularly a policy of peace that would end his career as a military commander.
Question: How does Athos manipulate the situation to learn and then discreetly share the secret of the royal marriage without being indiscreet? Answer: Athos, having already been challenged by Condé to explain the gift, listens attentively to the approaching Duc d’Anjou and Chevalier de Lorraine. He predicts aloud that their conversation will answer Condé’s question. He then lets the prince himself overhear the Duc d’Anjou reveal the wedding secret, allowing the information to come to Condé directly from the source, thus absolving Athos from any direct betrayal of confidence.
Question: Contrast the Duke d’Anjou’s perception of his upcoming marriage with Prince de Condé’s. What is the significance of this difference? Answer: The Duc d’Anjou views the marriage as an irritating obligation that happens to come with a pleasant sum of spending money. His response is frivolous and self-centered. Condé, however, instantly comprehends the profound geopolitical consequence: a dynastic alliance with England means a long-lasting peace. This difference highlights the vast gulf between a callow prince who lives for personal pleasure and a seasoned strategist whose life’s purpose and glory are tied to war.

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